Minister Hind Al-Subaih

KUWAIT: During her meeting today with the parliament's priorities committee, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and Minister of State for Planning And Development Hind Al-Subaih will discuss a report she had made about government bodies and ministries lagging behind in development projects and how much of these projects have been completed so far. Notably, Subaih had finished the report earlier and submitted it to the Cabinet, which is expected to take some decisions concerning some senior officials, including not renewing their tenures and giving notices or final warnings according to how behind they are in their responsibilities in the development projects. Informed sources said that the first of such decisions would be made after the Eid Al-Fitr holiday in mid-July, adding that the parliament's priorities committee would later report to the State Audit Bureau requesting to take disciplinary measures against these officials.

Lagging behind

Meanwhile, Chairman of the parliament's priorities committee MP Yousef Al-Zalzalah said that some ministries were not doing a good job in following up on the development plan projects under their jurisdiction and that a report was submitted at the National Assembly to hold them responsible and accountable. Zalzalah pointed out that many ministries were lagging behind, namely the public works, electricity and water and the municipality affairs' ministries.

Mandatory zakat

Kuwait Zakat House Manager Ibrahim Al-Saleh said GCC states plan to set legislations mandating individuals and companies who possess sums for which they should pay zakat (alms) to do so. "This can easily be done through consulting banks," he said, noting that zakat houses in GCC states were suffering from huge financial shortages.

Labor transfer

The Manpower Public Authority denied that new decisions have been made about transferring work permits. It further stressed that administrative decision number 842/2015 is still in effect pertaining with restricting work permit transfers in the shepherding, fishing, agriculture, industry and co-operative sectors. The decision also restricts transfer of visas of workers recruited for government contracts to other government contracts only.

Oil statistics

Acting director of the Central Statistical Bureau Mona Al-Daas said that in view of the significance of oil-related statistics, and with the aim of reducing the time needed to provide such statistics, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was being prepared with the oil ministry to provide such information. Daas added that the directorate discussed the governance indicators needed with the State Audit Bureau in accordance with the development goals in the UN's 2020-2030 development plan on the strategic goal of governance.

Fatal accident

A Kuwaiti couple, a 35-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman, yesterday sustained fatal injuries and died instantly when they lost control of a bike on Arabian Gulf Road and it flipped over several times.

By A Saleh